zoolApr 4

drafting an internal talk about the field sensors course last week, plans and dreams for the @SoftwareSaved Fellowship

https://codeberg.org/zool/BetterHardwareTalks/src/branch/main/internal/index.qmd (quarto markdown bullet points atm)

got budget approval and venue space for a May 29th workshop, but with recent fluctuating levels of energy and present-ness, i've considered postponing, unsure if i'd have stamina to facilitate it properly, haven't found all the right people yet.

this has the best week of functioning i've had for some time though!

BetterHardwareTalks/internal/index.qmd at main

BetterHardwareTalks - Talk slides, images and material that accompany the BetterHardware project

Codeberg.org
Show threadzoolApr 9
ah yes, the "85% finished, just add images " talk slides which now prompt you to properly watch this @danmcquillan talk on "Technopolitics, Ecology and Decomputing" for inspo https://www.danmcquillan.org/decomputing.html while wondering again if you're trying to draw a whole picture out of too many links
Decomputing

Show threadzoolApr 9

this absolutely got to me at "the ecological aspects of AI are also conflict-generating"

review of reference points for conflict ecology, environmental loss and recovery https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877343524000186

Show threadzoolApr 9

the segment I came for, at around 20 mins https://www.danmcquillan.org/decomputing.html

"Degrowth in relation to computing. So that means a rejection of the fossil fuel dependency on computing, rejection of conflict minerals, the commitment to social production and ownership, and prioritisation of scaling down."

The decolonialism link, Maori principles applied to computing, one for the folks labelling samples for development projects... https://www.temanararaunga.maori.nz/resources-copy

Decomputing

Show threadzoolApr 9

the internal talk about the @SoftwareSaved Fellowship on #BetterHardware, its surrounding context and where i see it all going felt fine, didn't wear myself out doing it, got some helpful feedback and it seemed to click with a few people.

good practise/basis for an iteration at the Gathering for Open Science Hardware Community Call at the end of the month, with a less captive, more critical audience! then onwards to the @oshwassociation Open Hardware Summit in May

https://zool.codeberg.page/BetterHardwareTalks/internal/

Better Hardware, Better Research

FeedMe DoughnutsApr 10
Show threadzool

plug for the #rc2014 Mini II Picasso in there because it's such a lovely project, in its commitment to the bit and sense of joy

of course i've now arbitraged myself into ordering the kit out of appreciation, this one i won't be able to get away with putting on expenses, but maybe persuade someone to write a #Z80 demo for it that really realises its art effect :)

https://rc2014.co.uk/full-kits/rc2014-mini-ii-picasso/

RC2014 Mini II Picasso « RC2014

Apr 9 at 12:26pmWeb
Show threadzoolApr 13

the Mini II Picasso kit turned up the next day, packed in striped paper bags that make it look like sweets

now the sun's finally going in. i'm down the hacklab poring over the assembly instructions, offering the circuit design for regulars to admire and wondering wtf i've over-committed to, this seems to _start_ with the Spiral Resistor Staircase

Show threadzoolApr 13
@ghalfacree _thank you_ for the Mini II Picasso writeup, the visual reference and partial reassurance that i need today, embarking on trying to solder this thing https://mastodon.social/@ghalfacree/114263616414084944
Show threadGareth HalfacreeApr 13
@ultrazool
Don't worry - if I can manage it, anyone can!
Show threadzoolApr 14
end of Round 2 of building the #rc2014 Mini II Picasso, feels like it's going right but don't want to get tilted right before the Sunken Chip :)
Show threadzoolJun 2

Well this stalled for longer than anticipated but *almost* finished soldering the #rc2014 Mini Ii Picasso yesterday, a good immersion activity!

Went straight in for the Sunken Chip, it was not that scary snipping the legs of the chip in half and bending them flat, flushed with success i managed to solder the set of six bent pins in the side in the wrong 6-pin holes, spent ages trying to desolder them, got tilted

Looks like this now, you can see the almost removed, extra bent pins on the left

Show threadRC2014Jun 2
@ultrazool 😍
Show threadRC2014Apr 14
@ultrazool Looking really good so far! 😍
Show threadHP van BraamApr 14

@ultrazool OMFG I both love and hate this in exact equal measure.

I don't know what to do with this new emotion

Show threadzoolApr 14

@hp that's great, you can use this feeling to interrogate your shadow self, right?

find the parts of you that love the wonky art electronics, ask them what would make them react in an opposite way, sit for a while with that

find the parts of you that hate the tortuous circuit design and ask them what they'd love in their place, and how the rest of you would end up feeling about that

might add up, might not :)

Show threadkianryan ☑️🐙🏳️‍🌈Apr 13
@ultrazool
You've got this.
Keep your iron warm and shiny, take your time and you'll be fine.
Show threadzoolApr 13
@kianryan cheers :)
Show threadRC2014Apr 13
@ultrazool Excellent, glad it arrived ok. Hope you enjoy the build. I'm sure it will turn out great, but feel free to shout if you need any clarification on anything.
Show threadzoolApr 13

@rc2014 i've already managed to sort-of tin all the legs together in the shared hole on the Spiral Resistor Staircase nearest the ROM part, and wondering how much that matters, wary of messing up the board with too much fiddling around desoldering

yes i'm going very slowly, this build could take a long time, hopefully won't have too much recourse to this :)

Show threadBarry RowlingsonApr 9
@ultrazool ooh its almost enough for me to dig out my copy of How To Program the Z80 from the loft
Show threadstevefaeembraApr 9
@geospacedman @ultrazool i have previous with the z80, if you want a hand. Bit rusty tho :) (I thought they only just stopped making the z80 last year?)
Show threadzoolApr 9
@stevefaeembra @geospacedman you'd be very welcome to try! there are so many things i want to learn, lifetimes worth, but Z80 assembly language is not on that list, i'm determined to remain wilfully ignorant about retrocomputing
Show threadshortcolinApr 9
@ultrazool The neat-freak in me can't look at the chips at the weird angles. Aargh ;-) I want to click on that and "align grid"! I've got a cable for my amber VT320 terminal which I think should plug into that if you want the full retro experience.
Show threadzoolApr 9
@shortcolin maybe i should install it in the hacklab, specifically to wind up people like you :)
Show threadshortcolinApr 9
@ultrazool I have got my large straightening pliers out, ready!
Show threadRC2014Apr 9
@ultrazool Thank you! Looking forward to seeing what you do with it!
Show threadzoolApr 9
@rc2014 wish me luck successfully soldering it, looking forward to it! ( and to finding out what colour vibe comes out of the Lucky Dip :) )
Show threadRC2014Apr 9
@ultrazool I know what colour it is... but won't spoil the surprise!